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The Security Council has called on Djibouti and Eritrea to agree to a ceasefire after several days of fighting along their joint border that has led to several deaths and dozens of wounded.

Voicing "strong concern about the serious incidents that occurred on 10 June," the Council condemned Eritrean military action against Djibouti in Ras Doumeira and Doumeira Island, according to a statement read out last night by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad of the United States, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month.

"The Security Council calls upon the parties to commit to a ceasefire and urges both parties, in particular Eritrea, to show maximum restraint and withdraw forces to the status-quo ante.

"The Security Council urges both parties, in particular Eritrea, to cooperate and engage in diplomatic efforts to resolve the matter peacefully and in a manner consistent with international law."

The 15-member panel welcomed the efforts of the African Union, the Arab League and individual States to end the crisis and encouraged Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to use his good offices and reach out to both countries "to determine arrangements for decreasing the military presence along the border and to develop confidence-building measures to resolve the border situation."